Page 54 of A Lab Rat’s Guide to Fated Love

Epilogue

Nori

N ori sat cross-legged on the beach, her loose curls swaying in the breeze. Far ahead, with strokes of warm pink and purple swirling into the horizon, the evening sun dipped into the sea a few quarters of an inch every time she averted her gaze to briefly glance at Anita while they talked.

They were close enough to the shore for the water to gently lap at their bare feet with each incoming wave. In the distance, Vir and Adi bickered playfully, standing chest-deep in the water.

“What time is your flight tomorrow?” Anita asked, taking a small sip of her beer.

“Nearly midnight. Vir wants to sleep through it. Helps him fight off jet-lag.” Nori tipped the last of her beer into her mouth and set the empty green bottle to the side.

She pulled her knees to her chest and sat hugging them while she watched Vir hop onto Adi’s back. He begged his twin for a piggyback ride, and Adi seemed to oblige at first, but then threw him into an oncoming wave at the very last moment.

She laughed.

“Did you tell him?” Anita asked her a moment later. “About the past-life stuff?”

“I did.” Nori replied. “He doesn’t remember anything. I don’t either, except for the bits I told you about. He did mention the dreams he’d been having before we met. Fascinating.”

“Ah, yes. That’s where he got the Algiz rune from, it seems.”

Nori nodded. “He’s not had those in years now, but digging into these subjects has made him even more intrigued about this field of science.

That’s why he’s joining the university in Alberta to continue his research on dream-science there.

I haven’t seen him this excited about anything else before. ”

“I thought he was more excited to finally meet Goober after all these years.” Anita chuckled. “Are you sure it’s the research and not the cat?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure if I should let those two meet.” Nori shook her head. “What if Goober likes Vir more than me, switches alliance, and demotes me to his spare-human? After watching Vir with Billie, I can’t rule out the possibility.”

“Ah, no way, that’s too big of a risk. Maybe you should cancel your flight and just stay here with us. We’d have plenty of time to do that sleeve you wanted, too.”

“Should I?” Nori laughed again.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to do another reading for you? We could find out who you both were. And what happened.”

Nori shrugged. “I don’t need to know who we were in the past. He’s here with me now. That’s enough.”

“Aren’t you coming for a swim?” Vir called, sloshing towards them. “I used to have to drag you out of the water earlier.” He looked pointedly at Nori.

“We were just finishing our beers.” She stretched out a hand towards him, and he pulled her to her feet.

Both turned to look at Anita.

“Nope. Not me,” she replied before either of them could ask. “Not today. ”

“I’m taking her then,” Vir scooped Nori up in his arms and ran towards the water.

“Vir Varma, put me down!” She giggled. “If you throw me in, I will get revenge, I promi—” He jumped into an oncoming wave with her. “Argh!”

A moment later, they resurfaced together, laughing and spitting salty water. Once they’d managed to hobble their way onto solid ground again, Nori immediately lunged for him.

“Hey! I didn’t throw you, did I?” He sprinted away from her, leaving splashes along the shore as he did.

“A technicality!” She ran after him.

In the distance, Adi was bringing a large tray of burgers to where Anita sat. Nori’s stomach grumbled loudly.

Slowing to a jog, she turned to look at Vir again and slammed right into him. “Gah!”

“I thought you wanted revenge.”

“I do.” She glanced to the side to watch them bite into their burgers, and her mouth watered recalling the taste from earlier. A perfect combination of juicy-soft in the middle and crunchy on the outside.

Cupping her face between his palms, Vir tilted her head towards him. “Burgers or revenge?” he asked, his hair dripping saltwater over his bare shoulders, while his dark, kitten-eyes bore into hers.

“I want to say revenge, but—” The only thing hotter than Vir in glasses was Vir with damp hair. She took a small step forward so their torsos were nearly touching. Nearly. “—have you any idea how crispy those burgers are?”

“And we obviously don’t want them to get soggy,” he agreed, looping an arm around her waist. He pulled her closer till their bodies were pressed together. “Priorities.”

“Priorities,” Nori whispered, letting her fingers run through his hair.

Vir’s head dipped down at her touch. He paused with his face inches from hers, teasing. She closed the remaining gap to brush his pretty smirk with hers. Just a light graze. Teasing the teaser.

A low hum rose in his throat as he captured her mouth with his. Their lips parted open, tasting the lingering salt from the sea. And each other.